G–T–O. Denoting Gran Turismo Omologato, it’s an acronym which, for Ferrari disciples, represents the summit of the mountain. For those of a certain age, it brings to mind the sultry 250 GTO of 1962 – a car which, for myriad good reasons, is now among the most valuable on the planet. But for others, it’s the razor-sharp Pininfarina lines of its successor, the 288 GTO. 

Not even Il Commendatore could ignore the frenzied popularity of Group B rallying in the 1980s. A new dawn of homologation specials had, as a result, dawned, and the FIA formula’s loose framework of rules and minimum production requirement of 200 cars suited Ferrari to a tee. Here was a prime chance for the Prancing Horse to flex its muscle and show the manufacturers nipping at its heels who was boss.

The result was the 288 GTO, a technological tour de force which genuinely moved the supercar game on and boasted performance the like of which had never been seen in Maranello, let alone the rest of the world. Thanks to the emergent art (or should we say black magic?) of forced induction, there was 400bhp on tap from the 2,855cc twin-turbocharged V8. Coupled with a tubular spaceframe chassis and lightweight bodywork crafted from then-newfangled composites such as Kevlar and Nomex, that meant 0–60mph in under five seconds and a top speed of over 190mph. These were ground-breaking figures in 1985.

And where to begin with that fabulous Pininfarina-engineered shape. A fleeting glimpse in the corner of an eye might fool you into thinking this is a 308 GTB. But look properly and you’ll realise Leonardo Fioravanti’s classic design was elevated to an entirely new level – primmed and pruned, swollen and elongated to make it look like a proper purposeful road racer. The nods to its illustrious forebear the 250 GTO are nothing short of perfect. Among the very best looking Ferrari of them all? We’d struggle to disagree...

The Ferrari 288 GTO we’re offering was ordered new via Maranello Concessionaires by one Charles Church from Hampshire in the United Kingdom. Specified from new with the black full-leather interior and air-conditioning, chassis number 055687 was built by Ferrari at the beginning of May 1985.

Rather than take delivery at Tower Garage in Egham, the home of Maranello Concessionaires, Church opted to travel to Maranello and collect his new Ferrari from the factory itself. As the accompanying correspondence shows, a temporary Italian registration was issued to Church for the European leg of his homeward journey, before UK customs confirmed its importation at Calais on 17 May 1985. Just 20 Ferrari 288 GTOs were supplied new to the UK – less than 10 percent of the overall production. All were left-hand drive and fitted with metric speedometers.

A successful property developer, Church owned chassis number 055687 for five years, during which time he drove it the length and breadth of the country from project to project, covering a remarkable 50,000 kilometers. That the Ferrari was his pride and joy is backed up by the 12 Maranello Concessionaires service invoices issued during his ownership, totaling over £20,000 – a not insignificant sum in the 1980s. He only sold this 288 GTO in June of 1990 because he needed to make way for a new Ferrari F40…

Chassis number 055687’s second owner was Peter Allmand-Smith from Macclesfield in the north of England. He kept the car until 2002, adding a further 10,000 kilometres to the odometer. He was also invited to exhibit the car at Ferrari’s UK launch for the F50 at Goodwood in September of 1995. In a fitting turn of events for what has clearly always been a cherished car, this Ferrari’s third and final private owner was Peter Allman-Smith’s son. In the two decades that followed, he covered a further 15,000 kilometres. Crucially, in 2022 he commissioned a comprehensive restoration of this 288 GTO.  

The two-year project was undertaken by a respected Ferrari specialist here in the United Kingdom, and involved stripping the car’s shell back to the bare metal, entirely rebuilding its twin-turbocharged V8 engine and overhauling all the mechanical aspects including the complete suspension assembly. Satisfyingly, the interior was left in its original condition. A wealth of accompanying imagery chronicle the exhaustive process, which totalled almost a quarter-of-a-million pounds. 

Since its restoration, chassis number 055687 has been driven fewer than 500 kilometres and showed only once in public at Salon Privé in 2024 (where it duly won its class). And as you’d expect, its condition is virtually flawless throughout. Satisfyingly, this 288 GTO is even better to drive than it is to look at, with the engine in particular exhibiting abundant power. The final piece of the puzzle in this Ferrari’s restoration was the Ferrari Classiche certification, which was duly awarded in the summer of 2025 confirming the originality of the chassis, engine, gearbox and body.

Suffice to say, chassis number 055687 is accompanied by everything one would want to accompany a 288 GTO. In addition to its factory documents pouch, which includes the user manual, sale and service booklet and original warranty card, this car also retains its spare-parts catalogue, tool roll, spare keys, spare wheel (and wheel spanner) and ultra-rare original fitted Schedoni luggage bag. The latter is an especially rare find, with most 288 GTOs having lost theirs early on in their lives.

We haven’t yet mentioned the history file, which was compiled with assistance from Tony Willis of the Maranello Concessionaires archive and is absolutely superb. Copies of the original sales invoices from Ferrari, the original customs importation documentation, the original registration and the Maranello Concessionaires service records. It’s all there. Not to mention the documentation and imagery chronicling chassis number 055687’s comprehensive restoration from Furlonger Specialist Cars.

An appropriately princely price, the disbandment of Group B and a global oil crisis meant only 272 Ferrari 288 GTOs were built, making the model by far the rarest of the ‘halo’ Ferrari supercars for which it trod a path. For context, 1,311 F40s left the factory in Maranello. Regardless, Ferrari had proved that there was demand for extreme, low-volume performance sportscars. It gave it the confidence to continue the legacy of the GTO with a run of limited-production flagship models culminating in the hybrid-powered LaFerrari– models which are only becoming more desirable.

Fresh from a major service at Furlonger Specialist Cars, chassis number 055687 is among the finest-quality examples of the genesis of this hallowed family we have ever encountered.

SOLD